Jazz Singer, Actress. She gained fame as an American entertainer during the Black Jazz Age of the 1920s. Born the daughter of a twelve-year-old rape victim, her childhood was anything but stable, with her being bounced from relative to relative and living in impoverished conditions. She overcame her tragic childhood by performing with traveling Vaudeville shows. Her break came in 1919 when she made her debut at one of the famous New York City Harlem nightclubs. Her soulful jazz style created a large fan base, and in 1921, she released her first recording on Cardinal Records. By the mid-1920s, she had evolved into more of a pop singer, and her career expanded as she appeared in musical revues and movies. In 1931, with top billing, she and show-stopping trumpeter Valaidia Snow made a successful tour of the United States with "Rhapsody in Black." In the late 1930s, she was recognized as one of America's brightest Broadway stars. Some of her musical hits included "St. Louis Blues," "Taking a Chance on Love," and "Stormy Weather." In 1949, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the film "Pinky." The next year, she earned the "New York Drama Critics Award" for Best Actress. She was a fan of gospel music, and from 1957 until her death, she sang regularly for the Billy Graham Crusades. In 1984, she was posthumously inducted into the "Gospel Music Hall of Fame."
Jazz Singer, Actress. She gained fame as an American entertainer during the Black Jazz Age of the 1920s. Born the daughter of a twelve-year-old rape victim, her childhood was anything but stable, with her being bounced from relative to relative and living in impoverished conditions. She overcame her tragic childhood by performing with traveling Vaudeville shows. Her break came in 1919 when she made her debut at one of the famous New York City Harlem nightclubs. Her soulful jazz style created a large fan base, and in 1921, she released her first recording on Cardinal Records. By the mid-1920s, she had evolved into more of a pop singer, and her career expanded as she appeared in musical revues and movies. In 1931, with top billing, she and show-stopping trumpeter Valaidia Snow made a successful tour of the United States with "Rhapsody in Black." In the late 1930s, she was recognized as one of America's brightest Broadway stars. Some of her musical hits included "St. Louis Blues," "Taking a Chance on Love," and "Stormy Weather." In 1949, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the film "Pinky." The next year, she earned the "New York Drama Critics Award" for Best Actress. She was a fan of gospel music, and from 1957 until her death, she sang regularly for the Billy Graham Crusades. In 1984, she was posthumously inducted into the "Gospel Music Hall of Fame."
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Waters memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
